CHECKLISTS

Posted on June 1, 2018 by randscallawayffm

Timothy and Titus – Inconspicuous Leadership

1 Timothy 5 checklistI am a list maker…even in retirement from my secular work. For me, what doesn’t get listed, doesn’t get done. It is also very rewarding for me to check that item off the list when it is accomplished. The list has a progression of priorities. One task cannot happen until another task is completed. And so life goes with my lists guiding my behavior and productivity.

As I journal each morning in my conversational prayer with God, the Father, His Spirit guides me to make another list that helps me to mature and grow in Him. I am convicted of some of those “fruits of the Spirit” that I have not tended to or cultivated, have ignored or left undone. His Holy Spirit redirects my thoughts and helps me form a list of tasks that will help me improve my behavior. “Keep a close check on yourself”, writes Paul to Timothy. For me, that means to make a spiritual checklist that keeps me in close contact with the will and purpose of our Father, God and helps me to grow closer to Him.

We can do nothing of significance without God. I am convinced that He guides us to all things that are good for our growth and aid our learning about Him and how He works. Paul also gives Timothy sound advice about how to treat those whom God has called to lead with character traits with another list of how to lead. This list still applies to us today. The theme of this episode seems to be; Know God, Know Yourself, Know The Message, Know Your Audience. Our deeds, good and bad, will be evident. Be driven by God’s love in us.

1 Timothy 5, The Message

17-18 Give a bonus to leaders who do a good job, especially the ones who work hard at preaching and teaching. Scripture tells us, “Don’t muzzle a working ox” and “A worker deserves his pay.”

19 Don’t listen to a complaint against a leader that isn’t backed up by two or three responsible witnesses.

20 If anyone falls into sin, call that person on the carpet. Those who are inclined that way will know right off they can’t get by with it.

21-23 God and Jesus and angels all back me up in these instructions. Carry them out without favoritism, without taking sides. Don’t appoint people to church leadership positions too hastily. If a person is involved in some serious sins, you don’t want to become an unwitting accomplice. In any event, keep a close check on yourself. And don’t worry too much about what the critics will say. Go ahead and drink a little wine, for instance; it’s good for your digestion, good medicine for what ails you.

24-25 The sins of some people are blatant and march them right into court. The sins of others don’t show up until much later. The same with good deeds. Some you see right off, but none are hidden forever.

1 Timothy 5 check yourselfLEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #6: Keep a Close Check on Yourself

Leadership Characteristics –

–Fully rely on God. Trust Him with all you are and all you have. We are His. All we have is His.
–Ask God “if there is anything offensive to you, cleanse me.” as the Psalmist prayed.
–Repent with a heart and mind not wanting to return to the old life.
–Look full into the face of Jesus, our Master, Lord and Savior with laser focus so we know what direction to take next.
–“Keep a close check on yourself.” Avoid, “he did it, I can, too” or “my sin is not as bad as his sin” or “everybody’s doing it” mentality.
–Ask God for wisdom, insight and understanding.
–Allow God’s transformation to continue in our lives.
–Ask God to make your lists of to BE and to DO. HE will prioritize your lists in ways you cannot imagine! Where He guides, He provides help all along the journey.
–Do all in a Spirit of love for God and others.
–Care enough to confront others with God’s love and concern for their spiritual well-being and growth.

Warning   The things on our spiritual check list can never be crossed off because we’ll be working on them our whole lives. By listing we are reminding ourselves of what we need to work on to “keep a close check” on our lives. It is only by The Atonement of Jesus Christ can we accomplish anything of eternal significance.

Dear Heavenly Father,
You have convinced me that we must do spiritual “business” with You each day to improve our being in You. Thank you for helping us on this journey. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit that points out things in our behavior that could cause us to crash…before crashing. Thank you for always being with us, guiding and directing, loving and protecting and challenging us to grow and bear Fruit. Continue to transform me. Transform your church. Transform the world through your church.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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LORD MOST HIGH!

Posted on May 29, 2026 by randscallawayffm

From the ends of the earth (ECHO)

From the depths of the sea (ECHO)

From the heights of the heavens (ECHO)

Your name be praised

From the hearts of the weak (ECHO)

From the shouts of the strong (ECHO)

From the lips of all people (ECHO)

This song we raise Lord

Throughout the endless ages

You will be crowned with praises

Lord Most High

Exalted in every nation

Sovereign of all creation

Lord Most High be magnified

Lord,

As we read your Word, we hear the choirs of heaven and earth sing your praises. May YOU alone be glorified and may all ages in all nations bow before you, echo your praises and receive your salvation—the gift that keeps on giving—forever and ever, Amen. Yes, Lord, we praise you; for you alone are worthy of all the praises of your creation!  May the rocks cry, the mountains rejoice, the flowers bend to you with thanksgiving and rivers be a sign of your forever flowing blessings of Life! May all mankind give you praise!

To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Psalm 61, The Message

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

1-2 God, listen to me shout,
    bend an ear to my prayer.
When I’m far from anywhere,
    down to my last gasp,
I call out, “Guide me
    up High Rock Mountain!”

3-5 You’ve always given me breathing room,
    a place to get away from it all,
A lifetime pass to your safe-house,
    an open invitation as your guest.
You’ve always taken me seriously, God,
    made me welcome among those who know and love you.

6-8 Let the days of the king add up
    to years and years of good rule.
Set his throne in the full light of God;
    post Steady Love and Good Faith as lookouts,
And I’ll be the poet who sings your glory—
    and live what I sing every day.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We respond with pure praise for our Lord Almighty who came to save us from our sins, heal our brokenness, making us whole and worthy to walk with our God!

Lord Most High

Exalted in every nation

Sovereign of all creation

Lord Most High be magnified

Psalm 61, NIV  The Echo of praise!

Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.

2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the foe.

4 I long to dwell in your tent forever
    and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
5 For you, God, have heard my vows;
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6 Increase the days of the king’s life,
    his years for many generations.
7 May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;
    appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

8 Then I will ever sing in praise of your name
    and fulfill my vows day after day.

Yes, and Amen!

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IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE—FEAR OR FAITH?

Posted on May 28, 2026 by randscallawayffm

We have all been there and done that.  We have all been tested and tried—not necessarily as hard at the beginning or end but smack dab in the middle of it all.  We respond with either giving up and quitting the battle or we deal with it and merely endured it.  What is “it”?  Our daily skirmishes, small to large battles, living life in an imperfect world where the Enemy works overtime to distract us from God, deceive us about God, deconstruct our faith in God with the ultimate goal to disengage us from God so He can destroy our faith in God.  It seems it is the hardest right in the middle of the battle then our strength is weakening and our resolve is waning.  We grow faint and weary in the war with our Enemy until we realize the war has already been won!  These daily skirmishes are mere distractions the enemy uses so we will look at him and all he throws at us instead of looking up to our Almighty God who as said repeatedly, “You need only to be still, I will fight this battle for you”.  And God’s people respond; “Oh yes, I forgot—faith over fear wins every time!”

“Being still” has to be repeatedly explained in our world of hurry to complete our self-made lists of “to dos”.  We are obsessive at times with accomplishing what we think will make us feel better as we try to make our family and friends feel better, thinking we will make our world better. “It’s all up to us, or the world will come apart at the seams!” we think.  What a lie! That is the talk of the evil one who consistently whispers in our ear that we must push, pull, and drag our way into a world where others are doing the same thing.  We demand our own way so we can “have it all” because we “deserve it all”. (Yes, another lie!) If we are slow to doing what evil suggests then he increases the heat of battle with invading our thought life with how inadequate we are along with getting su to believe we are nothing of value in this world.  How sad when we fall for these repeated lies of evil.

But God says, “Be still and know that I AM God”. These wordscome from the very heart of God to David’s heart in a beautiful song of praise for God.  Be still in the language used in Psalm 46:10 translates to “let go”.  Let go of you and what you want. Be still long enough in my Presence, says God to stop thinking about all that is on your plate because of all that is on your mind and then you can concentrate on knowing who I really am. God desires a forever relationship with His beloved.  We who believe are His beloved, who are cherished, and loved without conditions!

But in the middle of the battle, do we remember who God is and who we are to God?

Psalm 60, The Message

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1-2 God! you walked off and left us,
    kicked our defenses to bits
And stomped off angry.
    Come back. Oh please, come back!

You shook earth to the foundations,
    ripped open huge crevasses.
Heal the breaks! Everything’s
    coming apart at the seams.

3-5 You made your people look doom in the face,
    then gave us cheap wine to drown our troubles.
Then you planted a flag to rally your people,
    an unfurled flag to look to for courage.
Now do something quickly, answer right now,
    so the one you love best is saved.

6-8 That’s when God spoke in holy splendor,
    “Bursting with joy,
I make a present of Shechem,
    I hand out Succoth Valley as a gift.
Gilead’s in my pocket,
    to say nothing of Manasseh.
Ephraim’s my hard hat,
    Judah my hammer;
Moab’s a scrub bucket,
    I mop the floor with Moab,
Spit on Edom,
    rain fireworks all over Philistia.”

9-10 Who will take me to the thick of the fight?
    Who’ll show me the road to Edom?
You aren’t giving up on us, are you, God?
    refusing to go out with our troops?

11-12 Give us help for the hard task;
    human help is worthless.
In God we’ll do our very best;
    he’ll flatten the opposition for good.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

BACKGROUND:  The plural pronouns indicate that David was speaking to the Lord for the Israelites who felt themselves abandoned by God in the middle of the battle against unbelieving nations.

In the middle of the battle who is conquering who? 

Being a man of faith, David didn’t give up but rallied God’s people around the Lord’s banner (v. 4). When the enemy is close to conquering; we read throughout His word, how God sends “cheerleaders” and “coaches” to His people to teach them to remember that God is as One who keeps His promises.  Israel’s God is Jehovah-nissi—which means “the LORD is my banner” (see Exodus 17:15).

David knew that Israel was God’s own people, His beloved people (the name “David” means “beloved”) who feared Him, and that God had covenanted to give them success against their enemies (2 Samuel 7:9–11). In David’s heart, faith was conquering fear.

“Be still and know that I am God” is the best response to have and to hold for when we read the rest of Psalm 46, we are taught that God also says, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” David, man after the heart of God then adds in Psalm 46:11, “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  The battle with evil, our real Enemy, belongs to the Lord. And He will settle it in victory once and for all! —And he did!

Jesus is the reason we live today with faith over fear for He is Life!  Be the one who is God’s blessing to someone today with Truth.

“The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” Proverbs 11:25, MSG

Lord,

Thank you for your words of wisdom with reminders once again of who you are with who we are in You.  Cleanse our hearts and remove all that does not belong there. Deliver us from evil in our battles with evil.  Renew our minds with your higher thoughts of Truth. Refresh our souls with your new tender, fresh mercies. Restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work within us as we grow our intimate, loving relationship with you.  To You be all glory, honor, and praise! Forever and ever, Amen!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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LYING IN WAIT, EVIL POSES TO STRIKE; BUT GOD KNOWS

Posted on May 27, 2026 by randscallawayffm

Our enemies today can rise up anywhere at any time when we least expect it.  As the many followers of Jesus learned, the devil uses people in ways that can fool as they masquerade as God’s people.  But the masquerade is soon found out as evil strikes from behind with gossip, slander, and betrayal.  Most often our enemies are those who befriended us when no one else did and told us whatever we wanted to hear.  But these same people also work in dark corners against us, making false claims about us behind our backs, all to persuade others to do the same. This is evil at work. His methods haven’t changed, therefore Satan is really pretty easy to spot.

Those led and taught by the evil one to be as sly and cunning as he, come forward with smiles on their faces, gifts in their hands, but with evil in their hearts.  It is a foolish way to live for their foolish ways are led by pride, arrogance, and hate, manipulated by the Enemy of God.  With limited power, our Enemy is soon found out for God is always at work for his beloved—not against them. God never sleeps.  God knows what is going on in the hearts of all who follow His Enemy from the beginning of creation.  And for sure, God has not and never will, give up His Sovereignty over all His creation!

We need to remind ourselves that our enemies are not those who personalities grate on our nerves or merely disagree with us on any given subject at hand but still believe in Jesus as their Savior. They, like us, just require extra grace in being with them. 

No, enemies are those who do not like us because we believe, trust, and obey God above all. Enemies are people who are led by evil to take us down by whatever means necessary to distract, deceive, and deconstruct our faith.  These are the people we pray for and ask God to help them see who He so they can be saved from the evil they follow. For our real enemy is the enemy of God—Satan, the fallen angel, kicked out of heaven for wanting to be God and take over.  Truly, the Apostle Paul clarifies who is our real enemy with how to combat Him in Jesus Name;


“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”—Paul to the church in Ephesus.  Ephesians 6:10-13 

David is standing on the promises of God to deliver him from the same enemy who has taken over King Saul’s entire being.

Psalm 59, The Message

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.

1-2 My God! Rescue me from my enemies,
    defend me from these mutineers.
Rescue me from their dirty tricks,
    save me from their hit men.

3-4 Desperadoes have ganged up on me,
    they’re hiding in ambush for me.
I did nothing to deserve this, God,
    crossed no one, wronged no one.
All the same, they’re after me,
    determined to get me.

4-5 Wake up and see for yourself! You’re God,
    God-of-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God!
Get on the job and take care of these pagans,
    don’t be soft on these hard cases.

6-7  They return when the sun goes down,
    They howl like coyotes, ringing the city.
    Then suddenly they’re all at the gate,
    Snarling invective, drawn daggers in their teeth.
    They think they’ll never get caught.

8-10 But you, God, break out laughing;
    you treat the godless nations like jokes.
Strong God, I’m watching you do it,
    I can always count on you.
God in dependable love shows up on time,
    shows me my enemies in ruin.

11-13 Don’t make quick work of them, God,
    lest my people forget.
Bring them down in slow motion,
    take them apart piece by piece.
Let all their mean-mouthed arrogance
    catch up with them,
Catch them out and bring them down
    —every muttered curse
    —every barefaced lie.
Finish them off in fine style!
    Finish them off for good!
Then all the world will see
    that God rules well in Jacob,
    everywhere that God’s in charge.

14-15     They return when the sun goes down,
    They howl like coyotes, ringing the city.
    They scavenge for bones,
    And bite the hand that feeds them.

16-17 And me? I’m singing your prowess,
    shouting at dawn your largesse,
For you’ve been a safe place for me,
    a good place to hide.
Strong God, I’m watching you do it,
    I can always count on you—
    God, my dependable love.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Do we have the faith of David who knows God will deliver us from evil always!  David goes to God because he counts on God!  David knows where real strength is found—only in his Almighty God who overcomes all evil who is lying in wait to destroy him, for evil has already taken over the mind of King Saul!

Confident David sings songs of praise while God does all the heavy lifting of fighting his battles against evil!

How confident are we in our daily encounters with evil?

Let’s trust God.  If you need more proven truth, read His Word provided for us for God’s Word does not contradict itself. We can depend on God for He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). And because He is the Lord, he “will be the sure foundation for our times” says the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 33:6).

Therefore, stand firm on the foundation laid before us by Jesus Christ our Lord whom God sent to remove the sins of the world for all who believe Him with the bonus of eternal life!  (John 3:16)  Evil, who lies in wait for us, only offers death.  Jesus is Life!

Choose wisely, this day, who you will follow, adore, love, listen to, trust, and obey for this is a matter of life or death.

Lord,

Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole. Thank you for fighting this battle of evil against me as you deliver me from evil’s schemes. Thank you for the foundation upon which to stand firm in Truth—who is You.  And when it gets hard, thank you for giving all the power and strength needed to stand firm still and be still before you, our Overcomer of evil.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GAMEPLAYERS CANNOT OVERCOME GOD

Posted on May 26, 2026 by randscallawayffm

Warren Wiersbe explains the Psalmist plea for mercy when life is overwhelmed by politicians and gameplayers who do not know, or care to know, God.  They demand to be in control while satisfying their own needs with evil ways. Other people do not matter because there is no love of God in them.  Wiersbe writes;

“David addressed the lawless leaders and asked them whether their words were just, their decisions legal, their sentences fair, and their silences honest. Were they upholding the law and defending the righteous or twisting the law and benefiting the wicked? He knew the answer, and so do we. When they should have spoken, they were silent, and when they spoke, they ignored God’s law. The problem? They had evil hearts, for they were born in sin just like the rest of us (Psalm 51:5; Genesis 8:21). However, they made no effort to seek God’s help in controlling that sinful nature but gave in to its evil impulses. It’s because humans are sinners that God established government and law, for without law, society would be in chaos. It’s from the heart that evil words come out of our mouths and evil deeds are done by our hands.” –Wiersbe Study Bible

Psalm 58, The Message

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.

1-2 Is this any way to run a country?
    Is there an honest politician in the house?
Behind the scenes you weave webs of deceit,
    behind closed doors you make deals with demons.

3-5 The wicked crawl from the wrong side of the cradle;
    their first words out of the womb are lies.
Poison, lethal rattlesnake poison,
    drips from their forked tongues—
Deaf to threats, deaf to charm,
    decades of wax built up in their ears.

6-9 God, smash their teeth to bits,
    leave them toothless tigers.
Let their lives be buckets of water spilled,
    all that’s left, a damp stain in the sand.
Let them be trampled grass
    worn smooth by the traffic.
Let them dissolve into snail slime,
    be a miscarried fetus that never sees sunlight.
Before what they cook up is half-done, God,
    throw it out with the garbage!

10-11 The righteous will call up their friends
    when they see the wicked get their reward,
Serve up their blood in goblets
    as they toast one another,
Everyone cheering, “It’s worth it to play by the rules!
    God’s handing out trophies and tending the earth!”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

It is easy to believe today that choices are plentiful in our world!  Go to Walmart, for example, there are aisles of choices of name brands and generic brands, types to fit all humans, along with price points with many sizes of products for just caring for our hair! Need I remind us that God knows how many hairs are on our head on any given day? He probably even knows which shampoo is best! We are led like sheep to these aisles of choices by the media and spoken testimonies of stars.  But do they really use these products or are they just being paid to say what compels us buy their product?  I’ll let you decide—for you do have a choice!

On one of my many mission trips to Haiti; I was given the opportunity to escort a pastor, his son and young daughter to the United States.  It was to be their first visit to my world of choices!.  It was amazing to watch and be ready for their reaction to our world of choices!  From a place of only one choice, if you can get it at all, to a store of overwhelming choices I saw through their eyes the many things in our world that I took for granted. They were also overwhelmed with new technology of escalators, toilets that flushed, and water running plentiful from faucets to clean up not to mention the plane ride that took us quickly to our destination!  The kids’ eyes grew large with seeing the first McDonalds but overwhelmed with the choices there, too.  What do I eat when I haven’t tried anything on the menu in front of me? 

I was also weirdly saddened by our country’s seemingly unlimited choices placed in front of my beautiful friends whose souls were committed to Jesus first and whose daily choice was Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives.  I felt like an accomplice to evil in a way as I introduced them to a world of choices that would overwhelm anyone seeing it for the first time.  “Don’t let it overwhelm you; you don’t need all that is put in front of you!” I would think and say out loud to the young ones in my care. My first reaction in fact was to shield them from all that was being thrown at them at once.  That reaction surprised even me!

Is that what God/Jesus/Holy Spirit living in us is trying to do when we are overwhelmed with all the choices put in front of us daily when there is only one choice for Life that is truly needed?  Shield and protect us—yes!

Paul explains the choice we make daily between God or evil.  Even the Apostle Paul had to be on his toes to choose wisely.  Paul is spiritually motivated by his relationship found only in Jesus with God.  Paul knows there are really only two choices in this life.  All other choices stem from our decision follow God who is Good or evil.  To Paul, his former life of following his will and his own ways was a dark, nasty garbage way of life in which he chose not to return.  He writes;

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Pressing toward the Goal

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:8-14

God, through Jesus, did for Paul what Paul could not do for himself; redeem Paul of all his sins and shortcomings.  Paul chose God first and when he did, like all believers in Jesus, he received the power and wisdom from God’s Holy Spirit living in him to guide him in all decisions.  Was Paul perfect then?  No, but he was perfectly forgiven as he pursued a perfect God daily.

That same God, same Jesus, same Holy Spirit does that for us—no matter the sin—for there is nothing we have done that God will not forgive.  But we need to choose Him first! We need to surrender daily to His will as we pursue Him. As we do our trust and faith in Him matures, grows and bears the fruits of God’s character that affects all other decisions we make on any given day!  We will always be a “work in progress” until we see Jesus face to face.  I can handle being “in progress”, knowing God is working on me, can’t you?

Who we are in Jesus will be proven in what we will do in our daily decisions. 

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”—Jesus, Luke 6:45

So, Good News!  God is more interested in our pursuit of Him than in our desire to be perfect!  What a relief! So be with God before doing in Jesus Name!  Surrender to His holy, pleasing and perfect will for us.  (Romans 12:1-2) This is a LIFE choice that we will never regret!

Lord,

I surrender all to you again today.  I desire what you desire for me.  You are God. I am not.  I offer my life as an offering to you.  I place it before you God as an offering of sacrifice. I want to embrace and thank you for all you have done, are doing, and will do for me for it is the best thing I can do for you—to live in gratitude with a surrendered heart. I choose you not the culture around me that tries to mold and shape me to be less than who you are in me. Instead, I will fix my attention on You. 

My desire is for you to transform me from the inside out. Help me to readily recognize what you want from me so I will quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around me, with a plethora of choices, always dragging me down to its level of immaturity, bring the best out of me as you develop a well-formed maturity of faith in and through me. Use me as your instrument that shares the Good News of the greatest relationship we will ever have on earth and into eternity!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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WAKE UP TO GOD’S LOVE AND CARE!

Posted on May 25, 2026 by randscallawayffm

Psalm 57, The Message

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave.

1-3 Be good to me, God—and now!
    I’ve run to you for dear life.
I’m hiding out under your wings
    until the hurricane blows over.
I call out to High God,
    the God who holds me together.
He sends orders from heaven and saves me,
    he humiliates those who kick me around.
God delivers generous love,
    he makes good on his word.

4 I find myself in a pride of lions
    who are wild for a taste of human flesh;
Their teeth are lances and arrows,
    their tongues are sharp daggers.

5 Soar high in the skies, O God!
    Cover the whole earth with your glory!

6 They booby-trapped my path;
    I thought I was dead and done for.
They dug a mantrap to catch me,
    and fell in headlong themselves.

7-8 I’m ready, God, so ready,
    ready from head to toe,
Ready to sing, ready to raise a tune:
    “Wake up, soul!
Wake up, harp! wake up, lute!
    Wake up, you sleepyhead sun!”

9-10 I’m thanking you, God, out loud in the streets,
    singing your praises in town and country.
The deeper your love, the higher it goes;
    every cloud is a flag to your faithfulness.

11 Soar high in the skies, O God!
    Cover the whole earth with your glory!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Even while running and hiding from the enemy, do we realize we are never alone?

Background:  David wrote Psalm 56 when the Philistines captured him in Gath (see 1Samuel 21:10–15 for the full story). He wrote Psalm 57 while hiding in a cave.  David nearly always begins with his distressed cries for help—seeing only his reality; but then he also ends his songs with praise to God who is real, who is truth, and who never leaves or forsakes him in battle with enemy giants and kings.  Get this—

When David pauses to talk with God he realized God’s realty and Truth—David is not alone.  God is trustworthy. He is a rock, a hiding place, a fortress. God loves, leads, shelters us then sends us back into battle with evil by His power working within us that also serves to build our faith!  Yes, there is no one like our God!

It’s time for us to awaken our souls to this truth about God:  We have safety and comfort in Him who never leaves us with a love that is relentless and never changes for us! This is the reality in which we live as believers. Is we do not and rely on our power and control; we are mere chums of fresh bait to the sharks of evil who do not know God.

We all can relate to David in the cave.  We can almost hear the echo of David’s sweet voice singing quietly to God in desperation; “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed” (Psalm 57:1, NIV). 

Our response:  When life gets hard, let us look to our refuge and Deliverer—God through Jesus Christ, His Son.  Jesus told his disciples then and speaks truth to us now; “in this world you will have trouble; but relax, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The reality of a True Believer in Jesus we are never alone. We will have troubles but we have a Savior and Lord who is already at work on our behalf because He is the Victor over all circumstances, roadblocks, and obstacles in the way for all who put all their faith in Him call on His Name! 

A favorite gospel song of my childhood which still come to mind when I am worried over the things of this life is “Just a Little talk with Jesus makes it Right”.  My “little talk” happens daily.  (Romans 12:1-2) How long the talk and listen takes depends on how worried I am and how long it takes for me to surrender my will to God’s will!  Either way, the chorus speaks truth;

“Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
   Let us tell Him all about our troubles
   He will hear our faintest cry
   He will answer by and by
   Now when you feel a little prayer wheel turning
   And you know a little fire is burning
   You will find a little talk with Jesus makes it right…”

Lord,

Thank you for David and other songwriters who praise you with Truth!  In a world of lies, letdowns, and putdowns, it is so refreshing to hear from you what is real and right. Thank you for your love beyond all measure!  I’m yours and I’m listening.  Transform my life to be more like you in every way.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE TRUTH OF LIFE IS TRUST IN GOD WHO IS LIFE!

Posted on May 23, 2026 by randscallawayffm

By the heading before Psalm 56, we know David is in trouble once more as he is caught by the enemies of God’s people, the Philistines.  Goliath, as have studied before, came from Gath along with many other enemies of God and His people.  David cries out to God to plead his case to the One and Only who David knows is in charge and will help. David sounds anxious and distraught at first because of his current circumstance; but He still knows God, trusts in God or he would not have come to God expecting Him to help him out of this cruel and unjust captivity yet again.

When we trust God, it does not mean that we are exempt from our own troublesome battles with the world of evil or our own self-produced messes due to mistakes in judgment.  Truly the opposite is fact; we are sent to the front lines because of our faith for we are a people who trust God so completely that we seek to walk with Him, stand in His Presence, ready to take orders, willing to obey what He says—so others will know!  David is that person.

Pause to pray and reflect—

Are we as resolved and driven by our faith in God as David?  Do we seek God first with a surrendered heart, mind, and soul each day before doing anything of significance?  “How deep the Father’s love for us”, the chorus we sing, “How vast beyond all measure, that He should give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure.”  We were wretched and sinful who God made His precious, priceless treasure!  To know who we are in midst of trouble is overcoming half the battle!

God looks over the earth in search of those whose hearts are completely committed to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9) When He finds His created surrendered and committed to Him; He calls, equips, and sends us into the world, the front lines of battle, accompanied by all His power, strength, wisdom, and guidance at work within us!  THIS is what I’m learning about Life to the full.  THIS is what it means to walk with God, to dwell in His Holy Presence with expectant hope each day, asking for His will to be done in every detail of our lives until that Day we meet Him face to face in all His glory.

A surrender life to God is a relationship of trust driven by His love, mercy, and grace.

David knows “the Walk” and therefore is in constant communication with God in all circumstances because to David, to be in God’s Holy Presence is what he sought most in life here!  This is why David was known for being one who “ran after the heart of God”. His Psalms are a testimony to the greatness of God versus the weakness of man and as one who is in constant pursuit of the One and Only Holy God in all circumstances!  Imperfect David sought a Perfect and Holy God—the same God we pursue, believe, repent to, trust, listen eagerly, surrender all, and obey today! Same God. Different age, but same God!

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory…

Psalm 56, The Message

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam. When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

1-4 Take my side, God—I’m getting kicked around,
    stomped on every day.
Not a day goes by
    but somebody beats me up;
They make it their duty
    to beat me up.
When I get really afraid
    I come to you in trust.
I’m proud to praise God;
    fearless now, I trust in God.
    What can mere mortals do?

5-6 They don’t let up—
    they smear my reputation
    and huddle to plot my collapse.
They gang up,
    sneak together through the alleys
To take me by surprise,
    wait their chance to get me.

7 Pay them back in evil!
    Get angry, God!
    Down with these people!

8 You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn
    through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
    each ache written in your book.

9 If my enemies run away,
    turn tail when I yell at them,
Then I’ll know
    that God is on my side.

10-11 I’m proud to praise God,
    proud to praise God.
Fearless now, I trust in God;
    what can mere mortals do to me?

12-13 God, you did everything you promised,
    and I’m thanking you with all my heart.
You pulled me from the brink of death,
    my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.
Now I stroll at leisure with God
    in the sunlit fields of life.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

At the end of his song; David responded with thanksgiving for all God did for him. 

Scriptures tell us that thanksgiving brings us right into the throne room of God. God loves a thankful people and welcomes our praises!  How refreshing our words of praise with lives lived in gratitude it must be to our Father God!

We are distressed and frustrated when our children whine for more when they think we haven’t given enough to please their desires that change daily. Could it be the same or even more with God? Does our incessant whining over trivial troubles that test our faith and will fade quickly dishearten and displease Him?  YES!

But being “thankful in all circumstances”, even for trials and troubles, is truly what God desires from His committed.  Why give thanks in dire circumstances?  It is then that God does His best maturing work in and through us!  (See James 1)  It is through troubles we see the Hand of God and give Him all the glory!

Behold the Man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
No, but I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Source: Musixmatch, Songwriters: Stuart Townend, How Deep the Father’s Love for Us lyrics © Thankyou Music Ltd., Thankyou Music, Thank You Music Ltd.

Lord,

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I am so grateful that you forgive our whining as soon as we repent of it all. This is a new day and I will rejoice and be glad in it for you created this day for us to enjoy walking with you.  “I will stroll at leisure with You, my God in the sunlit fields of life” with expectant hope filled with your love in my heart.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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AS BETRAYERS HIT HARD; GOD TEACHES!

Posted on May 22, 2026 by randscallawayffm

It is the most excruciating blow when someone we trusted, confided in, loved and counted on to be in our corner in challenging times betrays us for reasons we cannot grasp or understand at the moment.  Betrayers rise up and hit hard when we least expect it for they know it will hurt more deeply to catch us off guard.  Betrayers also attack unexpectedly because they know it will lessen our response to them as we stand in shock at what just happened between friends and family.  We are humans who want to be liked and loved for who we are—and that’s part of our problem.

Betrayers then and now harbor bitterness with inner rage that prompts unending rehearsed speeches in their troubled minds with imagining us brought to our knees in shame. These untamed thoughts, however, only reflect the built of storage of pure hate.  These thoughts are fed by those who agree with them as they gossip about all they ways we did not measure up in their thinking or serve them in the ways they think they needed to be served. Betrayers’ sharp words and evil bent actions spew forth like the “Old Faithful” geyser at Yellowstone National Park seemingly at the very moment we are discouraged and fearful over an unplanned challenging circumstance in our own lives.  When we need their support the most; they attack our very being at the core.

However, as the Psalmist prays to God for help as his betrayers do their harm to him he expresses a thought in a phrase that leaps off the page to me this morning. I read this psalm in the NIV translation, too.  These are the words that accompanied his prayer for help; “My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught because of what my enemy is saying…”  Aren’t we all?!

When our beloved we trusted and confided our deepest thoughts and concerns become our betrayers—our own minds are tested and tried, too!  We don’t like how we feel about what they are saying which can lead to developing the same evil hate they have just delivered to us. But that is not the way of God.

It is common and human to respond with the same sharp words with a twisted anger and evil resentment. But that is not God’s ways which are always higher than ours.  Jesus, Son of God, was sent from God to not only save us from all our sins; He teaches us a new way to think as believers of Him.

“Love your enemies” and “pray for your enemies” and go the extra mile for them! As we pray for someone who has hurt us deeply; the hurt is lessened by bringing them to God in prayer seeking their good for His glory.  God adjusts our attitudes as we pray for our enemies and give us “higher thoughts” beyond our own thoughts that govern our pesky, unreliable feelings.

The Psalmist did not like to entertain the thoughts he was having over his betrayers for these thoughts take us to a place we do not want to go which only increases our pain, feeds our fears, and fades our faith.  “I really need you”, we cry out with the Psalmist—and God answers.  Trust Him!

Psalm 55, The Message

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David.

1-3 Open your ears, God, to my prayer;
    don’t pretend you don’t hear me knocking.
Come close and whisper your answer.
    I really need you.
I shudder at the mean voice,
    quail before the evil eye,
As they pile on the guilt,
    stockpile angry slander.

4-8 My insides are turned inside out;
    specters of death have me down.
I shake with fear,
    I shudder from head to foot.
“Who will give me wings,” I ask—
    “wings like a dove?”
Get me out of here on dove wings;
    I want some peace and quiet.
I want a walk in the country,
    I want a cabin in the woods.
I’m desperate for a change
    from rage and stormy weather.

9-11 Come down hard, Lord—slit their tongues.
    I’m appalled how they’ve split the city
Into rival gangs
    prowling the alleys
Day and night spoiling for a fight,
    trash piled in the streets,
Even shopkeepers gouging and cheating
    in broad daylight.

12-14 This isn’t the neighborhood bully
    mocking me—I could take that.
This isn’t a foreign devil spitting
    invective—I could tune that out.
It’s you! We grew up together!
    You! My best friend!
Those long hours of leisure as we walked
    arm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.

15 Haul my betrayers off alive to hell—let them
    experience the horror, let them
    feel every desolate detail of a damned life.

16-19 I call to God;
    God will help me.
At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh
    deep sighs—he hears, he rescues.
My life is well and whole, secure
    in the middle of danger
Even while thousands
    are lined up against me.
God hears it all, and from his judge’s bench
    puts them in their place.
But, set in their ways, they won’t change;
    they pay him no mind.

20-21 And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends;
    his life betrayed his word.
All my life I’ve been charmed by his speech,
    never dreaming he’d turn on me.
His words, which were music to my ears,
    turned to daggers in my heart.

22-23 Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—
    he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.
He’ll never let good people
    topple into ruin.
But you, God, will throw the others
    into a muddy bog,
Cut the lifespan of assassins
    and traitors in half.

And I trust in you.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Call out to God, He will answer and clean up the feelings that we cannot trust with His point of view with Truth.

Trust God for He is already at work in our lives and in the lives of our betrayers who sin against us and God.

Pray in surrender to the One who is in all and over all. (Romans 12)

“And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”—Jesus’ prayer, modeled for us.  Matthew 6:9-13

Lord,

Thank you for cleansing my heart, renewing my mind, refreshing my soul with mercies extended through Your Word this morning that went to the core of my being. Thank you for your ever flowing fountain of the joy of your salvation at work within me.  I’m yours and I’m listening, ready to trust and obey.  Thank you for reminding me who I am in the light of another day—one who is forgiven and forgives, motivated and driven by your power and love in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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OH, GOD, THERE YOU ARE! 

Posted on May 21, 2026 by randscallawayffm

He was there all the time
He was there all the time
Waiting patiently in line
He was there all the time

Time after time I went searching for peace in some void
I was trying to blame all my ills on this world I was in
Surface relationships used me till I was done in
And all the while someone was begging to free me from sin

He was there all the time
He was there all the time
Waiting patiently in line
He was there all the time

Never again will I look for a fake rainbow’s end
Now that I have the answer my life is just starting to rhyme
Sharing each new day with Him is a cup of fresh life
Oh what I missed, He’s been waiting right there all the time

This very old hymn of my youth comes to mind as I read the words of the Psalmist this morning. I don’t know why we worry first then pray; but we do.  When a huge expensive bill comes, harsh words from another human that brings pain, an accident that causes undue worry, or an extreme illness that takes away our current normal; we worry first then turn to God in prayer as believers.  Seek God first is our mantra; but do we?

The psalmists would be diagnosed as bipolar by today’s mental health professionals!  “Oh God, help me now, I’m going to die—Oh, there you are God!”  But when we take a fresh look upon their writings and consider how we would react to enemies of unexpected dire circumstances of our day that rob our joy momentarily; it seems to me it is the normal human response to react with fear first until our spiritual senses take over and remind us to pray to One who was, is, and always will be Sovereign, in charge, has power and authority over life itself.  Fear is real but is overcome with faith in a very real God!

It those who do not turn panic and fear over to the Lord with a resolved trust who suffers most.  For they don’t know God and do not trust that God is for them; not against them.

The Psalmist uses their everyday life or real threats then to teach us to trust in the Lord, God Almighty, now.  He is the One who is able, more than able, to help us through it all and put our feet back on solid ground.  Our faith in action, with God’s Love and Strength powering us, results in solutions for life beyond our wildest dreams! God is in charge and is always with us.  He knows, cares, and acts on our behalf. I’ve see it with my own eyes—daily!  God is there—all the time!

Psalm 54, The Message

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

1-2 God, for your sake, help me!
    Use your influence to clear me.
Listen, God—I’m desperate.
    Don’t be too busy to hear me.

3 Outlaws are out to get me,
    hit men are trying to kill me.
Nothing will stop them;
    God means nothing to them.

4-5 Oh, look! God’s right here helping!
    God’s on my side,
Evil is looping back on my enemies.
    Don’t let up! Finish them off!

6-7 I’m ready now to worship, so ready.
    I thank you, God—you’re so good.
You got me out of every scrape,
    and I saw my enemies get it.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Our natural response of fear can be overcome by a powerful spiritual response of immediate prayer to God. This is worship, too, to filter our lives through God’s Hands!  God is good and forever faithful to bend down and listen to every honest prayer we utter in the name of Jesus!  God works on our behalf even if we don’t see or feel it at the time because we can be so overwhelmed by the current circumstance. But I have learned that with the same breath that exclaims shock can be the same breath that looks up to God and cries out for help!  God knows for He knows before you knew and was already at work.  He just needs for you to know He knows and trust Him! 

Shock and fear turn immediately to praise and awe of God who we know is right beside us, knows what we are going through, and will help and lead us through it all! This is the God we trust and depend on for He is Life!  Forever! Trust Him!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Paul, Ephesians 3:20-21

Lord,

Thank you for being relentlessly patient with us, waiting for us to realize that there is nothing you cannot lead us through with your overcoming power. Faith over fear is the song we sing in your Name for our good and your glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GOD HAS NOT LEFT THE BUILDING

Posted on May 20, 2026 by randscallawayffm

When troubles or confusion over the issues of life present themselves, we must immediately turn to God and ask for His point of view for He is God! –and we are not Him.  We cannot see what He sees now and far into the future generations. We cannot know what to expect when things do not appear as we once thought they were and confuse what we were once taught to believe. We cannot hear who cause the rumors of war, the gossip of the populace, or the words of those seeking more power and control. 

But one thing is for certain and forever—God has not given up His authority and sovereignty over all He has created.  We can be sure God knows, He cares, and still loves us faithfully and forever.  God has not left the building of our souls for our good and His glory!  God is God and not one else is God.  In the beginning was God. God is now. At the end of the story of life on earth, still God.  God’s plan for His Son, Jesus to redeem us victoriously always has and always will the way to God. All believers who commit their lives to God daily to develop a self-controlled discipline of following what God says are victorious even in the worst circumstances with the rewarded gift of eternal life!

Fools say there is no God.  I am not a fool.  I know God is real, active and alive in my life. I’ve seen with my own eyes and felt His love for me.  When we love God back, surrendering our will, what we think we want, to seek His best, pleasing and perfect will, all the details of our lives transform.  God gives us a new heart, renewed mind, and refreshed soul. God opens our eyes to see life as He sees it in the wide open spaces of His love, mercy, and grace.  God fills our minds with ways of becoming like Him  and we watch in amazement to see ourselves grow in His character because of all the time we spend walking and talking with God.  The Apostle Paul named God’s Holy Spirit character traits as the fruits we begin to bear in our own behaviors of “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Paul meant we don’t need a law to be like Christ taught us!  There is no limit to possessing and bearing all these characteristics of God in us!  Paul went on to remind the church then which is relevant for us now;

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”  Galatians 5:22-26

THIS is real life!  This is the Life Abundant and Free that humanity seeks but does not always find because they are looking in all the wrong places—places where they allow evil to foolishly take them.  But walking with God brings clarity, focus and a new perspective to life that I cannot and will not turn my back on for my thoughts and ways are much more confusing, complicated, distracting and leads only to self-destruction.  Humans seem to lean toward a rebellious control of their lives but holy self-control leans on God’s wisdom, insight, and understanding.  Fools follow whoever has the best idea at the time. I don’t want to be a fool.  I rather have Jesus in my heart as I walk with Almighty God who created all, knows how all things work for good, is in all and over all. 

The Psalmist knows God, how about you?

Psalm 53, The Message

For the director of music. According to mahalath. A maskil of David.

1-2 Bilious and bloated, they gas,
    “God is gone.”
It’s poison gas—
    they foul themselves, they poison
Rivers and skies;
    thistles are their cash crop.
God sticks his head out of heaven.
    He looks around.
He’s looking for someone not stupid—
    one man, even, God-expectant,
    just one God-ready woman.

3 He comes up empty. A string
    of zeros. Useless, unshepherded
Sheep, taking turns pretending
    to be Shepherd.
The ninety and nine
    follow the one.

4 Don’t they know anything,
    all these predators?
Don’t they know
    they can’t get away with this,
Treating people like a fast-food meal
    over which they’re too busy to pray?

5 Night is coming for them, and nightmare—
    a nightmare they’ll never wake up from.
God will make hash of these squatters,
    send them packing for good.

6 Is there anyone around to save Israel?
    God turns life around.
Turned-around Jacob skips rope,
    turned-around Israel sings laughter.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Decide and follow the One and Only who has our names written on the palm of His Hand.  God is personal and His Ways are Perfect. God seeks those committed to Him and desires a personal relationship with us that is the most important relationship we will ever have—for eternity!

Lord,

I surrender all to you again today.  You are in charge whether I believe it or not.  I do believe, however and I have entrusted my life to You for You are Life!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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EVIL CANNOT WIN WHERE THE LIGHT IS PRESENT

Posted on May 19, 2026 by randscallawayffm

None of our Bible heroes of faith were perfect; but they knew God was. King David was not perfect but walked with a perfect God. When David’s eyes were averted, evil presented temptation and he caved to the enemy of God. From shepherd boy who lived as the unlikely, lowly youngest brother of his family to ever achieve anything of significance on earth ran after the heart of God with a desire to be where God is and reside in His holy Presence.  It is God who saved him.  It is the same God who saves us. 

What is our desire this morning? Is to run with those who look successful and possess the applause of others?  Is to run with friends who can help us gain all the riches we seek?  Is the longing for everyone in our family to think more highly of us as we tirelessly try to please them? What is our particular longing, that one thing that will make us more loving, gentle, joyful, grateful, and content?  The better question to ponder is, Who will fill the emptiness we feel when everything and everyone on earth does not fill it?

Psalm 52, The Message

For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”

1-4 Why do you brag of evil, “Big Man”?
    God’s mercy carries the day.
You scheme catastrophe;
    your tongue cuts razor-sharp,
    artisan in lies.
You love evil more than good,
    you call black white.
You love malicious gossip,
    you foul-mouth.

5 God will tear you limb from limb,
    sweep you up and throw you out,
Pull you up by the roots
    from the land of life.

6-7 Good people will watch and
    worship. They’ll laugh in relief:
“Big Man bet on the wrong horse,
    trusted in big money,
    made his living from catastrophe.”

8 And I’m an olive tree,
    growing green in God’s house.
I trusted in the generous mercy
    of God then and now.

9 I thank you always
    that you went into action.
And I’ll stay right here,
    your good name my hope,
    in company with your faithful friends.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

What I have learned over the years is that all of my spiritual, emotional, and mental growth comes from standing in the Holy Presence of God while fully relying on His Promises to rescue, save, teach, and nurture me.  Nothing grows in the darkness of shame, guilt, and confusion over what is real.  A plant, shooting up from a seed, will bend towards the light to grow. That is its nature. 

David refers to his nature of seeking the Light of growth using the olive tree as the example.  “I’m an olive tree growing green in God’s house. I trusted in the generous mercy of God then and now.”  What a great testimony from David who went through it all, from shepherd boy to anointed king of God’s people, one who sinned greatly but whom God forgave and used as His instrument of faith to build His kingdom!  It is from the line of David that Jesus was born of a virgin by God’s Holy Spirit who came to rescue and save us from our sins!  God’s Plan of Perfecting His people to stand in His Holy Presence—a plan of redemption and wholeness that we could not do for ourselves! Only by Jesus.

“Any one of us, or each of us. God does not play favorites. From the masses on the city avenues to the isolated villagers in valleys and jungles, all people can enjoy God’s presence. But many don’t. They plod through life as if there were no God to love them. As if their only strength was their own. As if the only solution comes from within, not above. They live God-less lives.” –Max Lucado, Lucado’s Encouraging Word Bible

Who is the one for you?  We have only two choices—one decisive choice is to live in and enjoy the Presence of God who created us, fills all the empty spots of our beings, and set us free to walk with Him in the garden where the olive trees flourish.  The other choice is live without God, walking in places of confusion, lies, deceit, gossip, and other forms of evil that rob us of joy, wholeness, real love, contentment and peace.  Empty hearts, minds, and souls do not grow without the Light of His Presence.  They perish. This is not the will or desire of the One who created each one of us in His image.

“Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.” 2 Peter 3:8-9, MSG

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” Psalm 84:10

Lord,

Thank you for singing over me as I seek Your Holy Presence this morning. Thank you for always being with us even in those times when we don’t feel you; you are there. Thank you for redeeming my soul, making me whole, teaching me to stand strong in Your Holy Presence as the only way to live and grow in your ways.  Thank you for inviting me and all those who believe, to walk with you every single day of our lives here until we see you face to face in all your glory—What a mighty, forever loving,  compassionate, holy and faithful God you are! There is no one like you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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